Ann McFarren, RN, Catherine A. Prahl, Susan G. Brink, DrPH, Jane Lincoln, MSW, and Amelia J. Birney, MPH, CHES. HealthMark Multimedia, 1828 L Street NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20036, 202-265-0033, sbrink@healthmarkmultimedia.com

Breast Cancer: Your Decision Notebook® CD-ROM is designed to help women with breast cancer understand their treatment options and to help them in working with their doctors toward the optimal decisions for their care. Formative evaluation results indicate that women with breast cancer find it difficult to make treatment decisions. They related the importance of carefully considering both the pros and cons of the treatments and their personal needs. Women reflected that they often felt unprepared for the treatment process, especially the side effects and the length of time for recovery. They want balanced information that would prepare them for the treatment regimen. This background research informed the development of a prototype, which focused on the personal aspects of treatment. This prototype enabled women to consider non-medical needs, to learn how a suggested treatment might impact their lives, and to learn ways to manage these impacts. Prototype evaluation data indicated that even a short intervention increases perceived self-efficacy (p<.001), especially in making treatment comparisons and communicating with doctors. Based on prototype evaluation, the full CD-ROM was developed with sections on surgical procedures, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and reconstruction. Each section is presented through narration, graphics, personal stories and interactive tools. Effectiveness in increasing knowledge, decisional self-efficacy and satisfaction will be determined by a randomized field test with women who are post-biopsy and pre-surgery. Subjects are randomized into CD-ROM or book groups and then use the material for four weeks. Data from this evaluation will be presented together with the CD-ROM.

Learning Objectives: